Rafet Mulic: Roma deserve better chances for life

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Thursday, 16 July 2020 13:10

Writer, librarian, president of the NGO Culture club, facilitator for the municipality of Bijelo Polje on the ROMACTED programme, Rafet Mulic is recognized in the Roma community as a man who does everything to make the Roma voice heard louder, is maximally involved in awakening and empowering the Roma population. Mulic perceives the problems of the most endangered group in the region as his own because only in that way you can feel the sting of the ungiven chances and denied opportunities. That is why our interviewee is a friend to whom young people rush, and to whom older Roma confesses. Thus, a place has been formed in the library of the Secondary Vocational School in which all obstacles are overcome through the bridge of words. We talked with Mulic about the everyday life of the Roma community, prejudices, literature in the Romani language, library records about the Roma, the engagement of other actors for the purpose of full integration.

How did you start working on ROMACTED?

MULIC: In the last few years, I have been more active in the process of integrating Roma population in Bijelo Polje through projects, more voluntarily with a few friends, and so I received a recommendation to apply for the position of facilitator within ROMACTED and was selected by the Commission.

What is the biggest contribution of the ROMACTED programme and the NGO Young Roma?

MULIC: The NGO Young Roma definitely took out from the anonymity Roma community in the north, both through a small grant program and through their other projects in which Roma men and women were involved and attended trainings, seminars and many activities that made an immeasurable contribution in the awakening of Roma communities. The ROMACTED programme has definitely awakened the Bijelo Polje Roma community, both individuals and especially the Roma civil sector. Also, the wider community understood what is key to the successful integration of Roma, and that is that the success of this process requires maximum engagement and involvement of the wider Roma community.

How much are you satisfied with the progress of the Roma community after the ROMACTED programme?

MULIC: So far we in Bijelo Polje, and I think that this is the official opinion of the ROMACTED team, have achieved excellent results. In just 17 months of implementing the ROMACTED program in the municipality of Bijelo Polje, we have managed to strengthen the Roma community to strengthen individuals, I can freely say current and future leaders in the community, who will soon be able to participate and influence the implementation of Roma integration, both in the municipality of Bijelo Polje and in the country.

What has motivated you to work?

MULIC: Exclusively, my human needs to help vulnerable groups. Only those who sympathize with members of vulnerable groups and see their problems as a problem of the whole community, and as part of their own problem, can work with marginalized groups. Another motivation may exist but not for a long time. Simply, in order for this work with marginalized groups to give a positive result, it must be done with a lot of understanding and love.

What do you consider your greatest success in the field of improving the position of Roma?

MULIC: That I definitely managed to motivate the Roma community in Bijelo Polje, that I suppressed almost all personal prejudices towards Roma, and I also mean prejudices that Roma men and women are different from us. The Roma are definitely the same as all of us, only unlike us, they do not have the same starting positions for life. They are definitely the most vulnerable population in the region and it will take a lot of time, support, and maximum engagement of all actors in the process of their integration to succeed. I believe we will because we started well.
Nevertheless, I consider it the greatest success that we managed to make the Bijelo Polje Roma community visible to other actors in the process of Roma integration at the state level through its activities, especially participation in conferences and seminars, and to interest them in working with this Roma community.

How would you like members of the Roma community to remember you?

MULIC: According to the friendship we established and the fact that several of us worked together (were employed) in the school library. And let me not forget, because together we watched the theatre play for which I wrote the text, and together we students of my school, several Roma men and women directed and participated in it.

What are the prejudices of the majority population towards the Roma?

MULIC: Prejudices in the majority community are mostly typical: that they are not working, that they do not keep their word, irresponsible, prone to domestic violence ... I would also say that they are in line with the average in the majority community. The only difference is in the way and conditions in which they live. I have asked myself many times: how do they manage to survive at all, with a smile on their face. For me, it is really admirable and that is why we have to make additional efforts to help them. They deserve a better chance at life.

How does your close and extended family think about your job?

MULIC: My immediate family, especially two daughters, are part of the team, they are almost always with me when I am with Roma men and women, and that is one additional thing that I am proud of. My daughters do not have prejudices against the Roma, but they are ready, and they have shown this several times to oppose those who express hatred towards the Roma and to fight to suppress prejudices against them. The whole family is not surprised at all. They have been accustomed since I was a child that I am always on the side of the weaker, that I simply like to be close to those who need help.

Does the majority community condemn you for working with the Roma?

MULIC: There are comments, but few, because, as I said, they are used to my commitments and beliefs, and more importantly, the environment knows how much I am ready to fight for what I believe in. What’s more, I think the environment supports my engagement, appreciates my contribution, and that makes me very proud.

Is there any Roma literature in the library where you work?

MULIC: What is Roma literature? If you think the literature about Roma, there is something small. If you mean literature written by Roma or in Romani there is no. I will present one fact, and that is that until last year, there was not a single library record about Roma in any city library in the north of Montenegro. That’s as if they’ve never even existed in this area. Terrible isn't it.

If you were a donor, what projects would you support?

MULIC: Everyday projects, the inclusion of Roma men and women in the daily life of the entire community. I know it’s weird but I really think it’s very important. Teach them everyday life, getting to know how everything works. Thus, they will be more ready to get involved in more serious processes such as education, employment...

Author: Milena Cavic

Text adapted by: Samir Jaha

The views expressed in this article do not represent in any way the views of the NGO Young Roma, the European Union, the Council of Europe and other donors.